Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-10-28
CHAPTER X.

As she sat painting upon this eventfu
afternoon, when her expected companion
Lydia, was riding leisurely upon frmtles.
errand to Dol, Natalie let her thoughts re
vert to their conversation of the two pro
vious days.
Then, Of course, she thought Of Fairfax
What a sad but striking face he hadl WHO
was hol What troubled him SO muchi She
was convinced something did. Why had he
started so and colored when he saw hol
coming down the staircasel Would she
ever SEQ him againl He interested her
Lydia, too, took such an interest in him.
Why had she, herself, Immediately
thought Of that song, when she cast her
eyes upon hint Why, too, did she always
think OF it in connection with himl That
song was peculiarly and only hers and
Otto's. What right had this man TO i'll
And yet it seemed his, too, as much as
theirs. Yes, and Lydia had said he had
been much disturbed us no listened to it,
and had remarked that it was interviewer
with his fate. Porhaps-she was almost
certain of it-her lost knife would return
through him.
In this ingenious and child-like manner
she unused, zealously painting all the time.
Suddenly the voice of Dimitri aroused
her. He pointed significantly 10 the storm
slowly gathering in the south. Her time
piece indicated half-past FIVE O'Clock. The
storm couldn't possibly break for at least an
hour an half yet She made the best of
her opportunity; and at a quarter past six
the finishing touch was laid upon the can
vas. Mounted on Medi, she turned to-
ward the view and waved her hand,
saying:
"Adieul adieul Medji, this is our last,
my feetest. Tomorrow we go.n
For a distance of several hundred rods
from the main road tho cliff road ran in q
perfectly straight direction.
Just as Natalie gained the point where tho
highway came in sight, she tn lught that
she caught sight Of figure which dartcd
backward from the center of the road and
disappeared from view on the left; but, sec.
ing nothing more, she concluded her eyes
had deceived her.
A shrill whistle pierced the quiet air.
This time she could not be mistaken. What
did it meant Probably some huntsman call.
ing his dogs.
When arrived at the main road she
glanced up and down it, but saw nothing IN.
usual
A huntsman-undoubted he who had
lust blown the whistlo-and an old farmer
were earnestly engaged in conversation.
Beyond them were some carriers coming
down the road. These were the only per.
sons in sight.
When she came to her favorite pool not a
soul was to be seen there, either
But, on leading Medji toward the rock
from which she was wont to mount, she
perceived an aged woman bending under a
heavy bundle of faggots This figure had
so timed its approach that it reached tho
rock as Natalie did. The woman, who
seemed to be of very great age, curtsed,
and in acracked, tremulous voice addressed
the Princess. So remarkable and interest
ing did this creature appear that Natalie
forgot the oncoming storm, and began to
question her with regard TO her life and
welfare. Fcebly putting down the bundle,
the trembling and palsied old thing told q
pitiful tale that stirred Nctalie's compass
sion. Drawing out her purse, the latter be
slowed a generous gift upon the poor soul,
who thereupon took the hands Of her Bono
factress, and, pressing them to herlips, Gov
cred them with kisses,
Natalie gazed in mingled amusement and
compassion, pilbblNClg dllONlHB Allc plilaDib
creature her way. She did not observe the
sharp eyes cautiously peering out from be-
hind the huge oak back of her. nor the fig-
urge that lightly bounded to the stone. But
she felt the iron hand that caught her in its
relentless grasp, and the gag that cffectual-
ly cholred, at it's beginning, her shrek for
help
The Princess struggled hercely to escape,
and even dragged her two sssailants for
some distance from the rock; but the old
woman, who suddenly Strengthened her
bent form, and miraculously regained her
strength, hold the two small han IS Of the
girl as in the grasp Of an iron vice, while
the other flung cloth over her head. The
fumes Of the powerful chemical with which
II was saturated, combined with the fright
full shock, soon rendered her unconscious.
Fairfax watched from distance the whole
scene in an agony Of remorse. Even he,
stern man, could not but keenly feel the I'M
deserved and cruel torture he was giving
an innocent girl. all to crafty an insane